


If words’ meanings are allowed to be changed then words become meaningless. I don’t think the character is allowed to wonder about the mom that is actually her mom. Again, I don’t think we are allowed to feel sorry for her for how confusing that must be. Why? I don’t think we are allowed to ask that. This story is about a girl who feels like a boy. Unfortunately, this author doesn’t and makes it worse in the process. I want a book where the author sees the messed up and try’s to show the good, the sensible. There is sense in this great big screwed up world. I don’t get away from life to go to books to incur more wrath. reading age – 8-9 years Maturity Level – 10+ years Final Judgement – excellent.I did not like the anger. Quality of read – ★★★★★Ī great and empowering book about working to make a difference and accepting and being proud of being different. Liv’s reality is given priority over other characters’ feelings and her new best friend is very supportive when she comes out. Some characters are mean to Liv but they are condemned by the narrative, which treats Liv well – aided by the fact that it’s written in the first person. It occupied the narrative in much the same way my identity occupies my mind – always present but rarely the main thing. I also appreciated that all this was just the background to the plot, not the actual plot itself. The inner battle of deciding when to disclose your truth to people – including when you think they might already know but you’re still too scared to actually say it aloud. The logistical gymnastics of changing rooms and bathrooms. The feelings of anger, frustration and hopelessness that dysphoria causes over an extended period of time. The stress of having to pretend to be someone you’re not all the time. This book did give a fairly accurate portrayal of the trans experience. Representation of the trans experience – ★★★★★ The trans character is Liv, the protagonist. I may seem like a girl, but on the inside, I’m a boy. Skirt wasn’t really the issue, not for me. The problem wasn’t the last word in that sentence. I bet I read those words a hundred times during summer vacation. “Girls must wear a black, pleated, knee-length skirt.” Whoever wrote the uniform policy decided (whyyy?) that girls had to wear skirts, while boys were allowed to wear pants. For an explanation of the sections of this review and for the full list of reviews of books with trans and non-binary characters, please read this post.
